Week 6: Yay for Real Refs

24-23 Seattle. Yeah. A totally terrible loss. A lot of it was on Brady, who played terrible. Tom had 14 passes that were either too high, or too low. One of them was picked off. Two more low passes were caught by Woodhead at his shoetop levels. That's 16 terrible passes. Way, way, way, too many. Seattle lost the turnover battle, and was 38 percent on 3rd and 4th down, and gave up over 350 yards. And they win. Why?

Reason 1: Brady. See Above.
Reason 2: A blind ref. Braylon 'Stonehands' Edwards, caught a 4th and 3 TD in the 4th to make it a 6 point game. On the play, he tosses Tramon Williams over his hip, comes back, and makes a great catch. A flag comes in from the Ref who is 3 feet away, with no one between him and the play, and he calls DPI! There's no way that DPI can even be argued, and yet the ref calls it. Huge ref error. Huge.
Reason 3: Intentional Grounding. Brady was called for two of them, and then one in the second half was a correct call. However, the one to end the first half was not. Here is the rule, per the official NFL rulebook, for intentional grounding:

"It is a foul for intentional grounding if a passer, facing an imminent loss of yardage, because of pressure from the defense, throws a forward pass without a realistic chance of completion. A realistic chance of completion is defined as a pass that lands in the direction and the vicinity of an originally elgibile reciever."

But, Brady did not throw the ball away because of pressure. It's was 3rd and goal, with 6 seconds left in the half, and the Pats were out of timeouts. I would have the kicked the FG. The Pats took a shot, and like you see a zillion times a year, Brady held the ball for three seconds, and no one was open, so he threw the ball out of the back of the endzone to stop the clock. That is not grounding, it should not have been called, it cost the Pats 3 points and the game. This is why Roger wants a taxi squad. There is no reason for that flag to be thrown. Period. If you see something wrong, fine. If you make an error, fine. If you don't know the *rule*, then you shouldn't be officiating.

Seattle played well, and we failed to put the dagger in them, and I thought Russell Wilson looked very very good. But the Refs gave them 10 points. That's what needs to end in the NFL.

Pats vs Seahawks.

Ian Eagle and Dan Fouts are doing the game.

Pats D1. Start at the 20

1st and 10: Brady to Hernandez, 8
2nd and 2: Brady to Lloyd, 6
1st and 10: Ridley for 2
2nd and 8: Ridley for 0
3rd and 8: Brady intended for Branch, inc. Possible missed DPI flag, but I think it was a good no call.
4th and 8: Punt

Pats are 0 for 1 on 3rd and 4th. (0 percent)

Seattle D1, Starts at the 16.

1st and 10: Offsides on Vince
1st and 5: Lynch for 4
2nd and 1: Lynch for 0
3rd and 1: Wilson to Turbin, 7
1st and 10: Wilson to Rice, 29. Illegal Contact on Chung declined.
1st and 10: Wilson to Miller, 22
1st and 10: Lynch for 4
2nd and 6: Lynch for 5
3rd and 1: Lynch for -4, Spikes blows up the play!
4th and 5: False Start, Seattle, on the Long Snapper
4th and 10: 34 yard FG attempt is good. 3-0 Seattle.

Seattle is 1 of 2 on 3rd and 4th. (50 percent)

Pats D2. Start at the 18. Short kickoff, but excellent Seattle coverage.

1st and 10: Brady to Welker, 6
2nd and 4: Brady to Ridley, dropped
3rd and 4: Brady to Hernandez, 9
1st and 10: Brady to Lloyd, high throw
2nd and 10: Brady to Lloyd, 18. Great catch!
1st and 10: Brady to Welker, 46, TD! Pats lead 7-3.

Pats are 1 of 2 on 3rd and 4th. (50 percent).

Seattle D2. Start at the 15.

1st and 10: Lynch for 6.
2nd and 4: Wilson to Tate, -5
3rd and 9: Wilson to Baldwin, 48. Terrible play for us, great for them.
1st and 10: Wilson to Rice, 6
2nd and 4: Wilson to Tate, incomplete
3rd and 4: Wilson with an amazing scramble for 9. Mayo missed a tackle.
1st and 10: False Start, Unger
1st and 15: Wilson to Baldwin, 23 TD. 10-7 Seattle.

2nd and 5: Brady to Lloyd, 8
1st and 10: Bolden for 13
1st and 10: Bolden for 3
2nd and 7: Brady to Welker, missed by a step or two
3rd and 7: Brady to Welker, 7
1st and 10: Brady to Branch, 5
2nd and 5: Brady to Gronk, 4. No one covered Branch at all, should have thrown to him. Fouts seemed shocked that Aaron and Gronk were on the field together.
3rd and 1: Bolden for 1.
1st and goal: Brady forces the ball to Gronk, almost picked. Bolden was open. Illegal shift called on Hernandez.
1st and goal: Bolden for 5
2nd and goal: Bolden for 2
3rd and goal: Brady to Hernandez, 1 TD! 14-10 Pats.

Pats are 4 of 5 on 3rd and 4th (80 percent)

Seattle D3: Start at 20

1st and 10: Turbin for 5
2nd and 5: Turbin for 11
1st and 10: Turbin for 1
2nd and 9: Wilson to Turbin for 14. A huge missed hold on Vince made the play possible.
1st and 10: Wilson for 1
2nd and 9: Lynch for -1. Holding on McQuistan declined.
3rd and 10: Wilson fumble, caused by Chandler Jones! Ninkovitch recovers!

Seattle is 3 for 5 on 3rd and 4th (60 percent)

Pats D4: Start at Seattle 47

1st and 10: Brady to Welker, 7. He took a huge hit
2nd and 3: Ridley for 3
1st and 10: Brady to Hernandez, overthrown a lot
2nd and 10: Brady to Ridley, 0
3rd and 10: Brady to Welker, 12
1st and 10: Ridley for 2
2nd and 8: Brady to Lyoyd, 8
1st and 10: High snap, Brady gets it, throws in the direction of Hernandez, incomplete
2nd and 10: Brady incomplete off Gronk’s hands
3rd and 10: Brady to Welker, 9
4th and 1: 25 yard FG attempt is good. 17-10 Pats

1st and 10: Brady to Welker, 15
1st and goal: Brady to Woodhead, 6
2nd and goal: Brady to Gronk, incomplete
3rd and goal: Brady throw away. Brady called for grounding, the half ends. I disagree with the call, but, I would have kicked the FG on 3rd down. We missed a chance here.

Pats are 5 of 8 on 3rd and 4th (63 percent)

Halftime. 17-10 Pats.

Seattle D5: Start at the 20

1st and 10: Lynch for -4, Spikes with the play
2nd and 14: Wilson sacked by Chandler Jones, -5
3rd and 19: Turbin for 4
4th and 15: Punt

1st and 10: Wilson to Lynch, 10
1st and 10: Wilson to Edwards, 12
1st and 10: Wilson to Tate, incomplete
2nd and 10: Wilson to Edwards, incomplete
3rd and 10: Wilson runs for 28, called back by holding on 68 of the offense
3rd and 20: Wilson to Obamanu, Wilson defends the pass
4th and 20: Punt

Seattle is 3 of 8 on 3rd and 4th (38 percent)

Pats D7: Start at the 26

1st and 10: Ridley for -1, Wagner makes the play
2nd and 11: Brady to Welker, incomplete
3rd and 11: Brady to Welker, 12
1st and 10: Brady to Gronk, 15
1st and 10: Ridley for 4
2nd and 6: Brady intercepted by Richard Sherman. Intended for Branch. Good play.

Pats are 7 of 11 on 3rd and 4th (64 percent)

Seattle D7: Start at 20

1st and 10: Lynch for 4
2nd and 6: Lynch for 3
3rd and 3: Wilson to 89, incomplete
4th and 3: Punt

Seattle is 3 of 9 on 3rd down (33 percent)

Pats D8: Start at 34

1st and 10: Brady to Woodhead for 2, low throw
2nd and 8: Brady to Lloyd 14
1st and 10: Brady to Hernandez, 8
2nd and 2: Brady to Lloyd, incomplete, low throw. Timeout taken by Pats
3rd and 2: Brady to Gronk, 6
1st and 10: Ridley for 3
2nd and 7: Brady incomplete, bad throw, intended for Lloyd
3rd and 7: Brady to Woodhead, 4. Roughing the Passer on Seattle, blow to the head. First Down!

End of the Third, 20-10 Pats

1st and 10: Woodhead for 5. Ian Eagle said that “Woodhead stays low to the ground like a heat seeking missile.” I guess he doesn’t know that heat seeking missles fly 
2nd and 5: Woodhead for 4
3rd and 1: Brady intercepted in the endzone by Earl Thomas. More points left on the field.

Pats are 9 of 14 on 3rd and 4th (64 percent)

Seattle D8: Start at the 20

1st and 10: Sidney Rice throws deep to Tate, incomplete. DPI on Chung. Huge play.
1st and 10: Lynch for 3
2nd and 7: Wilson to Miller for 9, fumble. Pats recover. I think they’ll get it back on review. Mayo forces and recovers if it stands.. Ruling on the field stands.

"I never thought one of these could feel as good as the first one, but this one does. If you are a true Patriot fan you know exactly what I mean." Robert Kraft, Owner, New England Patriots, Super Bowl 49 postgame speech.

1st and 10: Wilson to Tate, 51, plus a late hit on Wilson by Spikes
1st and 10: Wilson to McCoy, incomplete
2nd and 10: Turmin for 5
3rd and 5: Wilson to Tate, 2
4th and 3: Wilson to Edwards, 8 TD. DPI declined. It should have been OPI! Edwards pushed off. Clearly. Right in front of the official. This is why Roger wants a taxi squad for refs. 23-17 Pats

Seattle D11: Start at 44, after excellent return by Washington, 2:38 to play

1st and 10: Wilson for 9, QB run
2nd and 1: Vince calls the last Pats timeout, thanks to 12 on the field.
2nd and 1: Wilson off Rice’s hands, almost picked by our Wilson
Two minute warning
3rd and 1: Lynch for 1
1st and 10: Wilson to Tate, TD. 24-23 Seattle.

Seattle is 5 of 13 on 3rd and 4th (38 percent)

Pats D12: Start at 20, 1:14 to play. Woodhead should have kneeled

1st and 10: Brady deep to Lloyd, incomplete, OOB. Great try!
2nd and 10: Brady sacked, and Illegal motion
3rd and 17: Brady, high again! Incomplete to Aaron
4th and 17: Brady to Welker, 14. Game

We ended at 9 of 19 on 3rd and 4th. (47 percent)

"I never thought one of these could feel as good as the first one, but this one does. If you are a true Patriot fan you know exactly what I mean." Robert Kraft, Owner, New England Patriots, Super Bowl 49 postgame speech.

Reason 2: A blind ref. Braylon 'Stonehands' Edwards, caught a 4th and 3 TD in the 4th to make it a 6 point game. On the play, he tosses Tramon Williams over his hip, comes back, and makes a great catch. A flag comes in from the Ref who is 3 feet away, with no one between him and the play, and he calls DPI! There's no way that DPI can even be argued, and yet the ref calls it. Huge ref error. Huge.

I did, yes. Thanks . I was already starting to root for the Packers, I guess!

"I never thought one of these could feel as good as the first one, but this one does. If you are a true Patriot fan you know exactly what I mean." Robert Kraft, Owner, New England Patriots, Super Bowl 49 postgame speech.